Buying a Colt National Match Used.What to look for when

[jcerillo70]

So i found a Gem in a little busted up bait shop in the middle of nowhere...

A Colt Nation match > Blued >Series 70> 45 ACP

• Had some wear & scratch's on the inside of the slide
• little scratche on the frame
• The barrel looks worn on the outside (didn't look on the inside)

A couple extra things i noticed-

>Came with 6 10 rd mags- so obviously the previous owner used it to shoot comp.

> all black serrated rear adjustable sights, and all black front. So either he hoppe'd off the front sight paint or this thing is as old as i think it is.

>Also the slide is significantly lighter then my springfield 1911's ***


...So what should i look for on this to identify the year and value?

He want's $1000-$1100 with the chip McCormick mags

Looks identical to this, but with darker grips. (same hammer and trigger)



Thanks guys

 

[TonyT]

Check with Sutherland's book on Colt firearms. He describes the difference between the various models of the Colt National Match. I sold a mint speciment of a pre-70 Colt Gold Cup National Match for $1500 last year. Unfortunately I am away from homef or the winter and cannot help with the specifics from the Sutherland book.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds a little strange to me.

GCNM S70 did not come with serrated sights or colored sights.
Nor did it have a lightened slide like the 1957-1969 guns.

 

[jogar80]

My GC Trophy has all black serrated sights.

What do you mean by the slide being light? If you mean the resistance felt when you cycle the slide, it could be because it has the lighter recoil spring installed. These are used for competition where lighter loads are shot.

 

[jcerillo70]

oops

 

[jcerillo70]

My GC Trophy has all black serrated sights.

What do you mean by the slide being light? If you mean the resistance felt when you cycle the slide, it could be because it has the lighter recoil spring installed. These are used for competition where lighter loads are shot.

When he showed me the gun he had it dis-assembled. ( he said he was cleaning it)

The weight of the actual slide itself was lighter then my springfield slide. Now my hands are not calibrated by the division of weights and measures lol but i could tell the difference.

I been reading today about the slides being lighter in the early models, and not being able to run factory ball ammo through them. hopefully its not true.

 

[rcmodel]

It is true.

At one point, 1957-1969, the Gold Cup was designed and built to shoot Mid-Range wad-cutter ammo in NRA Bullseye competition only.
The slide had lightening cuts to make it more reliable with the light target loads.

We saw several of them back in the late 60's at 5th Army AMU get beat to death with GI hardball match ammo.

The civilian shooters just wouldn't believe us when we told them it would happen to their beautiful Gold Cup's if they insisted in shooting 230 grain hardball Match ammo in them.

rc

 

[jcerillo70]

It is true.

At one point, 1957-1969, the Gold Cup was designed and built to shoot Mid-Range wad-cutter ammo in NRA Bullseye competition only.
The slide had lightening cuts to make it more reliable with the light target loads.

We saw several of them back in the late 60's at 5th Army AMU get beat to death with GI hardball match ammo.

The civilian shooters just wouldn't believe us when we told them it would happen to their beautiful Gold Cup's if they insisted in shooting 230 grain hardball Match ammo in them.

rc

RC! i havent heard from you in a while brother!

When you say lightening cuts, i dont mean like on a sti race gun.

But rather the difference between steel and aluminum. its very strange indeed.

The only thing i can think of is maybe the slide has been worn to the point of shaving off x amount of material therefor lightening it...I hope not or else it wont be worth it.

 

[USSR]

...So what should i look for on this to identify the year and value?

How 'bout a serial #.

Don

 

[jcerillo70]

I printed out the guide on ProofHouse.com , so ill know when i go Sunday for the pickup